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39

inspired the public, whose idol she had before been. Youth and beauty are charms highly esteemed in the world; but something more is required on the stage.

I agree, however, that there may be exceptions. A single imperfection may, in no respect, destroy that union of gaiety, spirit, talent, and ease, with which some are gifted, particularly in comedy:—the habit of stammering, which Poisson had, perhaps, added to his comic abilities, even in his youth. But, in general, to be perfectly understood is the first obligation of a comedian; and those who have impediments in their pronunciation should neither have the ambition, nor be suffered to tread the boards of a theatre.

D 4